Canon's Digic proccesor is hands down the absolute winner, because they have worked the same processor for years and just keep refining it and adding power to it and functionality no one else has done this.

+1

I would add that Canon are distinct from Nikon in that they also manufacture the sensor. Those who follow DXO labs findings slavishly ignore this point - unprocessed raws have not been through the digic, or proprietary DPP, so it's a bit like test driving a car thats had it's gearbox removed.

So you think the in cam jpgs that have been digic processed are brilliant then? Better than what LR/ACR does??

captainclutch

I just had the choice between both cameras with no investment in glass on either side. I wanted to want the D800, I really did. I read enough about both to know that on paper the D800 was slightly better than the canon in most regards. However after holding both, I am 100% happy with my decision to go with the canon. As many have said, there is just something about the 5D3 that puts it above the D800 when you handle both. I figured that I'd end up using the 5d more just because its a pleasure to hold and use. The D800 just didn't give me that same feeling. I'd recommend everyone trying both in person before making the call. I'm glad I did.

paul13walnut5

So you think the in cam jpgs that have been digic processed are brilliant then? Better than what LR/ACR does??

No, and nowhere did I say that, but I think the CRW's that have been through DPP are a lot better than what DXO are measuring from.

In cam JPEGS are printable, unlike RAWs/CRW's. So in terms of a real life end image for viewing or printing then, yes if I had to choose between a CRW to take to the printers, or a JPEG I would take the JPEG.

Logged

markd61

Seriously, if you are suffering over specs so much you should buy the D800. Then you can kiss it and lick it and make goo goo eyes to it and generally be embarrassing but the rest of us will just go out and take the pictures we wanted to in the first place.

As most images on the web are less than 1000 pixels across and displayed on monitors of questionable origin and calibration I am not sure why you care what the images were made on. If you make prints you wont be showing them to anyone who will see a difference or give a cr@p what you took that LOLcat photo with.

briansquibb

If you make prints you wont be showing them to anyone who will see a difference or give a cr@p what you took that LOLcat photo with.

+1

I print a lot of images from my 1D4 on A3 (about 16x12) which needs a crop from 3:2 to 2.828 :2 (not much)

For IQ:

The most important aspect of those size pictures is lack of blur, either through OOF or camera/subject movement.

Next down the list is noise, followed by lens softness

Last on the list is DR

Modern camera technology advances has switched emphasis from mps increases to ease of getting a well exposed and focussed images and improved optics to allow more people to get top IQ - a switch from a black art to a consumer capability

I would think that this applies to most 'standard' pictures

There are of course times when all IQ aspects have to be first class (excellent) such as in fine art. However when printed the limitations of the printer are hit first - hence the latest improvements in print technology which are striving to keep up with camera technology.

The most cost effective way to improve your images is probably a top of the range printer with multiple black inks.

Yes, I think for basic RAW conversion that DPP does a better job than LR/ACR.

Are you talking about new adobe raw converter for the 5d3, or for all Canon cameras? If the latter, do you have some links that do some in-depth side-by-side comparisons? I have read that dpp might sometimes do a better job at denoising, but not so much that I'd want to use it.

I think Ken Rockwell also published a head-on comparison and the 5D3 won it based on useability alone.

(Apologies if this was already mentioned, didn't feel like reading all 26 pages of replies. )

Great. Now we are going to get 26 pages of Ken Rockwell wars.

Why? Because he bounces around like ping pong ball in a lotto machine?

He recognises that the 5Dmk3 is 500x the camera that the D800 will ever be, so he can't be that stupid.

The man did state quite clearly that for that test and his use, the 5D3 was the better machine but that that might change in the future, which to me sounds like a very healthy approach. Use whatever tool is best for the job. In the end, it doesn't really matter what 'brand' it is.